Air conditioner

Abstract

This utility model discloses an air conditioner, comprising a refrigerant circulation loop. The refrigerant circulation loop includes: a main pipe connected to a compressor; and multiple branch pipes, each connected to the main pipe and to an indoor or outdoor heat exchanger. At least one of the branch pipes is equipped with a variable flow component, comprising: a pipe body connected to the branch pipes, the pipe body being adapted for refrigerant flow; and multiple blades arranged circumferentially along the pipe body, each blade having a connecting end and a free end. The connecting end is connected to the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body, and the free end is adapted to expand and contract to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flowing within the pipe body. The air conditioner according to this utility model embodiment has advantages such as balancing cooling and heating effects and fully utilizing the heat exchanger's heat exchange function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air conditioning equipment, and in particular to an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] An air conditioner executes its refrigeration cycle using a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The compressor compresses refrigerant gas at high temperature and pressure and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process. The indoor and outdoor heat exchangers function as either condensers or evaporators, respectively.

[0003] In this system, the indoor or outdoor heat exchanger is connected to multiple branch pipes in the refrigerant circulation loop. During cooling, the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. When the air dew point temperature is reached, a large amount of condensate forms on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger as the air flows through it. This condensate flows downwards and accumulates at the bottom of the heat exchanger, reducing airflow and thus weakening the heat exchange effect. During heating, the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser, and no condensate forms on its surface. Therefore, the required refrigerant flow rate differs between cooling and heating. Related technologies typically adjust the length and diameter of the branch pipes to regulate their resistance and thus adjust the refrigerant flow rate for each circuit. However, this is a fixed-resistance system; the refrigerant flow rate is lower during cooling and heating compared to other circuits, resulting in an inability to simultaneously achieve optimal cooling and heating performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that has the advantages of balancing cooling and heating effects and fully utilizing the heat exchanger's heat exchange function.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, an air conditioner is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner includes: a compressor for compressing low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to provide power to the refrigerant; an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, one of which serves as an evaporator and the other as a condenser; a throttling component for controlling the refrigerant flow rate; and a refrigerant circulation loop connected to the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the throttling component, and the outdoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant circulation loop includes: a main pipeline... The system includes: a main pipeline connected to the compressor; multiple branch pipelines, each connected to the main pipeline and to either the indoor or outdoor heat exchanger; wherein at least one of the branch pipelines is configured with a variable flow component, the variable flow component comprising: a pipe body connected to the branch pipeline, the pipe body being adapted to allow refrigerant to flow through it; and multiple blades arranged circumferentially along the pipe body, each blade having a connecting end and a free end, the connecting end being connected to the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body, and the free end being adapted to expand and contract to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flowing through the pipe body.

[0006] The air conditioner according to the present invention has the advantages of balancing cooling and heating effects and fully utilizing the heat exchanger's heat exchange function.

[0007] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the branch pipes are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and the plurality of the branch pipes are all connected to the indoor heat exchanger or the same side of the indoor heat exchanger. The variable flow component is disposed in one or more of the bottommost branch pipes among the plurality of branch pipes.

[0008] The above solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: during cooling, the heat exchanger pipes at the bottom of the evaporator frost over, and the variable flow component can reduce the refrigerant flow in the branch pipes and restore the refrigerant flow in the heat exchanger pipes during heating.

[0009] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, the connecting end of the blade is located on the side of the tube body facing the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, and the free end of the blade is located on the side of the tube body away from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0010] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the variable flow structure can realize the expansion and contraction of the blades by relying solely on the refrigerant pressure, making the structure simpler, and at the same time, it is compact and occupies less space.

[0011] Furthermore, when the blades are deployed, there is a gap between the free end of the blades and the inner peripheral wall of the tube. During refrigeration, the refrigerant can flow into the gap between the free end of the blades and the inner peripheral wall of the tube, thereby applying a retracting force to the blades. This eliminates the need for additional power components and simplifies the structure.

[0012] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, each blade is constructed as an arc-shaped sheet structure corresponding to the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the tube, and multiple blades are evenly arranged circumferentially on the inner circumferential surface of the tube.

[0013] The above solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: When the blades are deployed, they can partially fit against the inner circumferential surface of the tube, thus minimizing obstruction of the refrigerant passage. Furthermore, when the blades are retracted, the free ends of the blades form a complete circular structure, allowing the refrigerant to pass through smoothly.

[0014] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, when the free ends of the plurality of blades are retracted, the long sides of adjacent blades are connected to each other to form a flow-limiting channel with a closed outer periphery.

[0015] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the refrigerant can flow along the path defined by the blades, and the flow-limiting channel changes the refrigerant resistance by reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow, making the refrigerant flow more stable.

[0016] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, each blade is constructed into a trapezoid when unfolded into a plane, the connecting end of the blade forms the lower base of the trapezoid, the free end of the blade forms the upper base of the trapezoid, and the lower bases of the trapezoids at the connecting ends of multiple blades are connected to each other; when multiple blades are unfolded, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends are spaced apart from each other, and when multiple blades are retracted, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends are connected to each other.

[0017] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the multiple blades are arranged more neatly, the force applied to the blades by the refrigerant is more uniform when passing through the blades, and the pressure of the refrigerant is more stable.

[0018] According to some specific embodiments of this utility model, the blade length is 5 to 8 times the inner diameter of the tube.

[0019] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the longer blade length can define a longer flow-limiting channel, thereby improving the stability of refrigerant flow. Furthermore, the longer blade length makes it easier to deform under stress.

[0020] According to some specific embodiments of this utility model, the length of the blade is equal to the length of the tube body.

[0021] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the blades can adapt to the length of the tube to the greatest extent, the blade coverage area is large, and the flow restriction effect on the refrigerant is more obvious.

[0022] According to some specific embodiments of the present invention, in the axial direction of the tube body, the flow cross-sectional area when the blade is closed is 15% to 85% of the flow area when the blade is unfolded.

[0023] The above scheme has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the flow area when the blades are retracted can be appropriately increased or decreased as needed, and the refrigerant distribution in the heat exchanger pipeline is more accurate.

[0024] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this utility model will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the unfolding of the blades of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the blades retracting in the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 This is a side view of the blades of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 5 This is a side view of the blades of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model being retracted; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the blade structure of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the blades of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the blades of the variable flow component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present utility model being retracted; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of refrigerant flow during cooling in the indoor heat exchanger of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of refrigerant flow during heating in the indoor heat exchanger of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure label: Indoor heat exchanger 10, heat exchanger piping 20, fins 30 Refrigerant circulation loop 300, main pipe 310, branch pipe 320 Variable flow component 1, pipe body 100, blade 200, connecting end 11, free end 12. Traffic restriction channel 101. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means two or more.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or it may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through another feature between them.

[0031] In the description of this utility model, the terms "above", "over" and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0032] An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] like Figures 1-10 As shown, the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a compressor, a throttling component, an indoor heat exchanger 10 and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a refrigerant circulation loop 300.

[0034] The compressor is used to compress low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to provide power for the refrigerant. One of the indoor heat exchanger 10 and the outdoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator and the other as a condenser. A throttling device is used to control the refrigerant flow rate. The refrigerant circulation loop 300 connects the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger 10, the throttling device, and the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0035] The refrigerant circulation loop 300 includes a main pipe 310 and multiple branch pipes 320. The main pipe 310 is connected to the compressor, and the multiple branch pipes 320 are all connected to the main pipe 310 and connected to the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0036] At least one of the multiple branch pipes 320 is equipped with a variable flow component 1, which includes a pipe body 100 and multiple blades 200. The pipe body 100 is connected to the branch pipe 320 and is adapted to allow refrigerant to flow within it. The multiple blades 200 are arranged circumferentially along the pipe body 100, and each blade 200 has a connecting end 11 and a free end 12. The connecting end 11 of the blade 200 is connected to the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body 100, and the free end 12 is adapted to expand and retract to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flowing within the pipe body 100.

[0037] For example, the refrigerant released by the compressor first enters the main pipe 310, and then the main pipe 310 distributes the refrigerant to multiple branch pipes 320. The multiple branch pipes 320 are respectively connected to the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby forming multiple heat exchanger circuits. For example, the variable flow component 1 is connected to the refrigerant circulation circuit 300 upstream of the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0038] The pipe body 100 is integrated with the branch pipe 320. The length of the blade 200 can be selected according to the axial length of the pipe body 100. The blade 200 can be interference-fitted with the pipe body 100 to fix it to the inner circumference of the pipe body 100. The blade 200 is a flip-type blade, unlike a spiral blade. The blade 200 of this invention can change the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow inside the pipe body 100. The connecting end 11 of the blade 200 is connected to the inner circumferential wall of the pipe body 100. It can be flipped by the elastic deformation of the blade 200 itself, or by using a hinge or other structure. Multiple blades 200 are arranged circumferentially along the pipe body 100, which is suitable for expanding and shrinking the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel inside the pipe body 100, thereby controlling the refrigerant flow rate as needed. It can be understood that the retraction and expansion of the free end 12 of the variable flow component 1 can be achieved by electrical control, or by using the pressure of the refrigerant flow.

[0039] In some embodiments, the blades 200, which retract and expand based on refrigerant pressure, are inclined towards the center in the axial direction of the tube body 100. Thus, when refrigerant flows through the tube body 100, the free end 12 of the blades 200 expands under the refrigerant pressure, thereby increasing the flow cross-sectional area and reducing flow resistance. When the refrigerant flow rate decreases, the free end 12 of the blades 200 retracts, reducing the flow cross-sectional area and maintaining stable flow velocity and pressure. This method enables dynamic adjustment of the refrigerant flow rate, improving heat exchange efficiency and reducing energy consumption to meet the refrigerant flow control requirements under different operating conditions.

[0040] According to the air conditioner of this utility model embodiment, by providing a variable flow rate component 1 on the branch pipe 320 of the refrigerant circulation loop 300, the variable flow rate component 1 can change the flow rate in the branch pipe 320 where it is located. For example, the variable flow rate component 1 is provided in the lower branch pipe 320, and the branch pipe 320 where the variable flow rate component 1 is provided is connected to the lower heat exchanger pipe 20 of the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0041] Taking the cooling function of indoor heat exchanger 10 as an example, such as Figure 9 As shown, the arrows indicate the direction of refrigerant flow. The variable flow component 1 is installed on the branch pipe 320 connected to the indoor heat exchanger 10. The indoor heat exchanger 10 acts as an evaporator, where liquid refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, cooling the surrounding air and achieving a "heat absorption and cooling" effect. When the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 10, acting as an evaporator, drops to the air dew point temperature, a large amount of condensate will form on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 10 as the air flows through it. This condensate flows downwards and accumulates at the bottom of the indoor heat exchanger 10. At this point, the airflow at the bottom of the indoor heat exchanger 10 decreases, weakening the heat exchange effect. At this time, the refrigerant in the multiple branch pipes 320 flows to the heat exchanger pipes 20. The lower branch pipes 320 reduce the refrigerant flow through the variable flow component 1, that is, the blades 200 are retracted so that the blades 200 partially block the channel in the pipe body 100, thereby reducing the refrigerant flow and adapting to the refrigerant flow required by the lower heat exchanger pipes 20 of the indoor heat exchanger 10, thus reducing energy consumption.

[0042] When the indoor heat exchanger 10 is heating, such as Figure 10As shown, the arrows indicate the direction of refrigerant flow. The indoor heat exchanger 10 acts as a condenser, where gaseous refrigerant condenses and releases heat, heating the surrounding air and thus serving a "heat dissipation" function. Once the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 10 rises, no more condensate will form on its surface. The refrigerant flow rate is kept consistent in the upper and lower sections of the indoor heat exchanger 10 piping. At this point, the lower-positioned branch pipe 320 is controlled to increase the refrigerant flow rate via the variable flow component 1. This is achieved by deploying the blades 200, reducing the area of ​​the channel within the pipe body 100 blocked by the blades, thereby decreasing the refrigerant flow rate. In this state, the amount of refrigerant required in the bottom flow path of the indoor heat exchanger 10 piping is the same as in the other paths, improving the heat exchange effect.

[0043] Similarly, the variable flow component 1 can also be installed in the branch pipe 320 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger. When the air conditioner is cooling, the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit acts as a condenser. The outdoor heat exchanger cools the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into a high-pressure liquid, releasing heat to the outdoor air. When the outdoor evaporator acts as a condenser, the variable flow component 1 increases the flow rate of the branch pipe 320, allowing the refrigerant in each branch pipe 320 to maintain a relatively large flow rate. When the air conditioner is heating, the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit acts as an evaporator. The outdoor heat exchanger causes the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant to absorb heat from the outdoor air and evaporate into a gaseous state, providing a heat source for the indoor environment. When the indoor environment is heating, the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit may experience frost buildup on the coils, affecting heat exchange. At this time, the airflow at the bottom of the heat exchanger will also decrease, and the required refrigerant amount must be reduced accordingly. Therefore, in this state, the variable flow component reduces the refrigerant flow rate in this flow path, thereby achieving uniform heat exchange in all flow paths of the heat exchanger. Therefore, the variable flow component 1 can control the refrigerant flow entering the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger during the cooling and heating process of the air conditioner, thereby adapting to the refrigerant flow required under different operating conditions, giving full play to the efficiency of the air conditioner, improving the refrigerant utilization rate, and enhancing the heat exchange effect.

[0044] Therefore, the air conditioner according to the present invention has the advantages of balancing cooling and heating effects and fully utilizing the heat exchanger's heat exchange effect.

[0045] In some embodiments, the blade 200 is an elastic element that retracts or expands by the pressure of the refrigerant flowing within the pipe 100. For example, the blade 200 is made of stainless steel. When subjected to refrigerant pressure, the blade 200 elastically deforms and retracts, while when no force is applied, it returns to its expanded state.

[0046] Among them, the multiple blades 200 arranged circumferentially have the same shape and are subjected to uniform force when the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow can be controlled by the elasticity of the blades 200 themselves.

[0047] In other embodiments of this invention, the free end 12 of the blade 200 may not be limited to switching between the extended and retracted positions, but may also remain at multiple positions between the retracted and extended positions of the blade 200. Specifically, the blade 200 can dynamically adjust the degree of retraction and extension according to the force applied during refrigerant flow, adjusting to a suitable degree of retraction and extension based on actual refrigerant demand, thereby achieving the optimal refrigerant supply. Furthermore, the free end 12 of the blade 200 may also be provided with multiple stopping positions between the extended and retracted positions. The blade 200 is flipped to a suitable position based on the pressure of the passing refrigerant.

[0048] In some other embodiments of this invention, the variable flow component 1 can be a detachable structure. The variable flow component 1 is detachably connected to the diversion pipe 320. When the pipe body 100 or its internal blades 200 are damaged, it can be directly removed from the diversion pipe 320 for repair or replacement.

[0049] In some other embodiments of this invention, the tube body 100 of the variable flow component 1 can be integrally formed or welded to the diversion pipe 320, thus concealing the variable flow component 1 from the outside. The tube body 100 can be made of the same material as the diversion pipe 320, resulting in high structural strength and good heat exchange capacity. The blades 200 and the tube body 100, however, are made of different materials. In some specific embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, multiple branch pipes 320 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. All multiple branch pipes 320 are connected to the same side of the indoor heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger. The variable flow component 1 is set in one or more of the bottommost branch pipes 320 among the multiple branch pipes 320.

[0050] Both the indoor heat exchanger 10 and the outdoor heat exchanger include fins 30 and multiple heat exchanger pipes 20 inserted through the fins 30. The heat exchanger pipes 20 are connected to the branch pipes 320 one-to-one. A variable flow component 1 is installed in one, two, or more branch pipes 320 at the lowest position. The variable flow component 1 can adjust its degree of expansion or contraction according to the frosting condition of the evaporator. If the lowest heat exchanger pipe 20 is most severely frosted, the variable flow component 1 of the branch pipe 320 connected to that evaporator pipe will be contracted to the maximum extent, minimizing the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow. If the frosting on a slightly higher evaporator pipe is lessened, the variable flow component 1 of the branch pipe 320 connected to that evaporator pipe will be less contracted, ensuring that only the required refrigerant flows through the evaporator pipe.

[0051] By setting a variable flow component 1 in one or more of the bottommost branch pipes 320, the variable flow component 1 is positioned corresponding to the position of the evaporator where frost is likely to form. The refrigerant flow can be adjusted according to the refrigerant required by the evaporator, so that the heat exchange effect can be fully utilized when the evaporator is cooling or heating.

[0052] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the connecting end 11 of the blade 200 is located inside the tube body 100 on the side facing the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, and the free end 12 of the blade 200 is located inside the tube body 100 on the side away from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0053] Furthermore, there is a gap between the free end 12 of the blade 200 and the inner peripheral wall of the tube 100. In other words, regardless of whether the free end 12 of the blade 200 is extended or retracted, the blade 200 is tilted at a certain angle towards the center in the axial direction of the tube 100. For example, when the free end 12 of the blade 200 is extended, the extension direction of the blade 200 has an angle of 0° to 5° with the central axis of the tube 100.

[0054] When the air conditioner is cooling, such as Figure 9 As shown, the refrigerant flows from the branch pipe 320 to the indoor heat exchanger 10. When the refrigerant passes through the variable flow component 1, it first passes through the free end 12 of the blade 200 and then through the connection end 11. The refrigerant will exert an inward pressure on the free end 12 of the blade 200. The free end 12 of the blade 200 is compressed by the pressure of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the refrigerant flow in the branch pipe 320 and reducing the refrigerant flow when the evaporator is frosted.

[0055] When the air conditioner is in heating mode, such as Figure 10 As shown, refrigerant flows from indoor heat exchanger 10 to branch pipe 320. When the refrigerant passes through variable flow component 1, it first passes through the connection end 11 of blade 200 and then through the free end 12. The refrigerant applies outward pressure to the free end 12 of blade 200, causing the free end 12 of blade 200 to expand under the pressure of the refrigerant, thereby increasing the refrigerant flow rate in the branch pipe 320 and improving the refrigerant flow rate when the evaporator is not frosted.

[0056] Therefore, the variable flow component 1 does not require additional power components, and the blades 200 can be deployed and retracted solely by the refrigerant pressure. The structure is simpler, and the size is compact, taking up less space.

[0057] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, each blade 200 is constructed as an arc-shaped sheet structure corresponding to the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the tube 100, and multiple blades 200 are evenly arranged circumferentially on the inner circumferential surface of the tube 100.

[0058] The curvature of the blade 200 is equal to that of the inner circumferential surface of the tube 100. When the blade 200 is deployed, it can partially fit against the inner circumferential surface of the tube, thus minimizing obstruction of the refrigerant passage. Furthermore, when the blade 200 is retracted, the free end 12 of the blade 200 forms a complete annular structure, thereby facilitating the smooth passage of refrigerant.

[0059] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, when multiple blades 200 are retracted, the long sides of adjacent blades 200 are connected to each other to form a flow-limiting channel 101 with the outer periphery closed.

[0060] By retracting the blades 200 to form a closed flow-limiting channel 101 on the outer periphery, the refrigerant can flow along the path defined by the blades 200. Furthermore, the flow-limiting channel 101 changes the refrigerant resistance by reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow. The shape transition of the blades 200 is relatively uniform, ensuring the smooth flow of the refrigerant, reducing the generation of turbulence, and making the refrigerant flow more stable.

[0061] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 6 As shown, each blade 200 is constructed into a trapezoid when unfolded into a plane. The connecting end 11 of the blade 200 forms the lower base of the trapezoid, and the free end 12 of the blade 200 forms the upper base of the trapezoid. The lower bases of the trapezoids at the connecting ends 11 of multiple blades 200 are connected to each other. When multiple blades 200 are unfolded, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends 12 are spaced apart from each other, and when multiple blades 200 are retracted, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends 12 are connected to each other.

[0062] For example, multiple blades 200 are all constructed in the same trapezoidal shape, such as isosceles trapezoids. When the free ends 12 of the multiple blades 200 are closed, the waists of the trapezoids formed by adjacent blades 200 are connected, thus forming a flow-limiting channel 101 with a closed outer periphery. The specific shape of the trapezoids formed by the blades 200 can be designed according to the dimensions of the pipe body 100. By constructing multiple blades 200 in trapezoidal shapes and arranging them neatly, the force exerted on the blades 200 by the refrigerant when passing through them is more uniform, and the force exerted on the refrigerant by the blades 200 is also more uniform.

[0063] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, the length of the blade 200 is 5 to 8 times the inner diameter of the tube body 100.

[0064] The length of the blade 200 is equal to the height of the trapezoid. A longer blade 200 defines a longer flow-limiting channel 101, resulting in a more uniform resistance change for the refrigerant flowing through the channel 101, thus improving the stability of the refrigerant flow. Furthermore, the longer blade 200 is more susceptible to deformation under stress.

[0065] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, such as Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, the length of the blade 200 is equal to the length of the tube 100. Because the length of the blade 200 is equal to the length of the tube 100, the blade 200 can adapt to the length of the tube 100 to the greatest extent. The blade 200 has a larger coverage area, resulting in a more significant flow-limiting effect on the refrigerant. Furthermore, when the free end 12 of the blade 200 is retracted, it forms the longest flow-limiting channel 101 within the tube 100, making the resistance change of the refrigerant flowing through the flow-limiting channel 101 more uniform, thereby improving the stability of the refrigerant flow. Moreover, the longer length of the blade 200 makes it easier to deform and retract under stress, better meeting the stress requirements.

[0066] In some specific embodiments of this utility model, in the axial direction of the tube body 100, the flow cross-sectional area when the blade 200 is closed is 15% to 85% of the flow area when the blade 200 is unfolded.

[0067] The shape of the blades 200 can be adjusted according to the refrigerant flow requirements. When the refrigerant flow requirement is large, the flow area when the blades 200 are folded can be designed to be smaller. When the refrigerant flow requirement is small, the flow area when the blades 200 are folded can be appropriately increased, thereby making the refrigerant distribution in the heat exchanger pipes 20 more accurate and specifically solving the problem of different flow rates during heating and cooling.

[0068] Other components and operations of the air conditioner according to the embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0069] In this invention, the air conditioner executes a refrigeration cycle using a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and supplies refrigerant to the conditioned and heat-exchanged air.

[0070] The compressor compresses refrigerant gas under high temperature and pressure and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0071] The expansion valve expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the expanded refrigerant in the expansion valve, returning the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. The evaporator achieves its cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout the cycle, the air conditioner regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0072] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner refers to the part of the refrigeration cycle that includes the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor unit of an air conditioner includes the indoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve can be provided in either the indoor or outdoor unit.

[0073] The indoor and outdoor heat exchangers function as either condensers or evaporators. When the indoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the air conditioner functions as a heater in heating mode; when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the air conditioner functions as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0074] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0075] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: A compressor is used to compress low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas to provide power for the refrigerant. An indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein one of the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator and the other serves as a condenser; A throttling component for controlling refrigerant flow; A refrigerant circulation loop, wherein the refrigerant circulation loop is connected to the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the throttling assembly and the outdoor heat exchanger; The refrigerant circulation loop is characterized by comprising: The main pipeline is connected to the compressor; Multiple branch pipes, each of which is connected to the main pipe and to the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger; At least one of the plurality of diversion pipelines is configured with a variable flow rate component, the variable flow rate component comprising: Pipe body, the pipe body is connected to the branch pipe, and the pipe body is suitable for the flow of refrigerant; Multiple blades are arranged circumferentially along the tube body. Each blade has a connecting end and a free end. The connecting end is connected to the inner circumferential wall of the tube body, and the free end is adapted to expand and retract to change the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flowing inside the tube body.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of the branch pipes are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and the plurality of the branch pipes are all connected to the same side of the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor indoor heat exchanger. The variable flow component is disposed in one or more of the bottommost branch pipes among the plurality of branch pipes.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting end of the blade is located on the side of the tube body facing the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, and the free end of the blade is located on the side of the tube body away from the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the blade is deployed, there is a gap between the free end of the blade and the inner peripheral wall of the tube.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each blade is constructed as an arc-shaped sheet structure corresponding to the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the tube, and multiple blades are evenly arranged circumferentially on the inner circumferential surface of the tube.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the free ends of the multiple blades are closed, the long sides of adjacent blades are connected to each other to form a flow-limiting channel with a closed outer periphery.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each blade is constructed into a trapezoid when unfolded into a plane, with the connecting end of the blade forming the lower base of the trapezoid and the free end of the blade forming the upper base of the trapezoid. The lower bases of the trapezoids at the connecting ends of multiple blades are connected to each other. When the multiple blades are unfolded, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends are spaced apart from each other, and when the multiple blades are retracted, the short sides of the trapezoids at the free ends are connected to each other.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, The blade length is 5 to 8 times the inner diameter of the tube.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, The length of the blade is equal to the length of the tube.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the axial direction of the tube, the flow cross-sectional area when the blades are closed is 15% to 85% of the flow area when the blades are unfolded.

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